Control means



Jan. 9, 1951 l.. A. GRIMEs 2,537,458v

CONTROL MEANS Filed June 13, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l NNNNNN O R LESTER A, GGGG ES @maf BY JTW /LL/eATTORlZ/:Aviol L. A. GRIMES CONTROL MEANS Jan. 9, v1951 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 Filed June l5,k 1947 INVENTOR LESTER A. GRIMES BY l fmzg@ 2b/W47 ATTORNEYS IMI Patented Jan. 9, Y1951 CONTROL MEANS Lester A. Grimes, New Rochelle, N. Y., assignor to The Reliable Autom Mount Vernon, York atie Sprinkler Co., Inc., N. Y.,:a corporation of New Application June 13, 1947, serial No. 754,581V

23 Claims. i

This invention relates to control means and particularly to means for controlling the alarms for automatic sprinkler systems and the like, although certain features of the invention are of broader application.

Conventional automatic sprinkler systems of the Wet pipe type comprise an alarm check valve in the water line leading to the sprinklers, an alarm, and a retard device for controlling the alarm. The conventional retard device controlling the alarm consists of an accumulation retard chamber with the control of the alarm being responsive to the volume of water in the chamber.

One object of the invention is a novel and improved retard control means which has the advantage among others of operating responsively to pressure as distinguished from the volumetric response. Y

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved retard control means which is characterized among other things by the control of multiple alarms which are independently adjustable as to time elements.

'A further object of the invention is 'anovel and improved retard control means which is characterized by its dependability, accuracyand reliability in operation.

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved retard control means which is characterized by its compactness and the facility with which it may be installed and adjusted.

A further object of the invention is a novel andimproved retard control means comprising a main control element having contractible and expansible chambers with a suitable :fluid sealed therein'with at least one of said chambers being responsive to pressure surrounding the same.

A further object of the invention is a control unit having sealed fluid chambers with a restricted transfer passage therebetween and with certain of the chamber walls exible to permit contraction and expansion of the chambers together with means for supplying iiuid pressure to the flexible wall of one of said chambers.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear. Y

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein Fig. l is a sectional view thereof;

Fig. 1A is an enlarged sectional view along the line IA-IA of Fig. l;

Fig. 2 is a section through the casing thereof;

Fig. 3 is a View of an alarm device which may be used with the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view 'illustrating an alarm check valve which is usable with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown the invention in an embodiment comprising a casing I having a lowerchamber 2; an upper chamber 3, a cylindrical bore i below the chamber 2, an outlet 5 from the bore i leading to a motor alarm device, and a drain 6 substantially in line with the outlet 5 and communicating with and disposed on the opposite side of the bore 4. The casing comprises a part I to one side thereof and having a chamber I in communication through an opening l with the chamber 2. A

, iuid pressure inlet 8 is provided above the chamber I vand communicates Vwith the chamber 'l through the passage 8f. The chamber l comprises a cylindrical lter element 9 with its upper end alined with the opening 8 and the iluid pressure upon entry into the chamber l rst passes into the central portion of the lter 9 and then into the chamber 'l from whence it ilows to the chamber 2.

An important feature of the invention is the control unit A housed in the casing and cooperatively functioning with the chambers 2, 3 and ll to ecct the controlling functions. This element A comprises upper and lower chambers I I and i 2 which are sealed to the outside and contain a Y suitable uid. These chambers II and l2 are contractible and expansible with one of the chami bers expanding while the other is contracting and vice versa. The chambers lI :and I2 are spaced and separated from each other by means of a' disc head I3, this head comprising an annular ange lll on its outer edge for mounting the unit A centrally of the casing. The unit A is supported by an annular shoulder I6 formed on the inner wall ofthe casing, the annular ilange I4 of the spacing and separating head I3 resting upon the shoulder I6 with an annular f gasket Il disposed between the flange I 4 and the shoulder YI6 for the purpose of making a fluid pressure tight joint between the disc head VI3 and the shoulder I5. The interior of the casing in the vicinity of the disc head I3 is screw threaded to receivean annular holding and clamping nut I8, this nut I8 being screwed down tightly against lthe annular flange lll to put the gasket I1 under compression. The clamping Anut I8 is provided with suitable notches or other means I8 for facilitating the tightening or loosening of the nut I8.

The disc head I 3 is provided with a central hub part or thickened portion i9 and this hub part is provided with means restricting the ow of uid from one of the chambers II and I2 to the other,

Y 3 and this restricted passage in the particular embodiment shown is a clearance between a rod or stem 2G passing through a central opening formed in the hub part I9. The stem or rod passes freely through the central opening with the predetermined clearance therebetween and the walls of the central opening i9 formed through the hub part I9. The disc head |3 forms the bottom end wall of the chamber and the tcp end wall of the chamber i2. of the side walls or outer end walls is iiexible so as to expand one chamber while the other chamber is being contracted and in the particular embodiment shown the sid-e walls which are indicated at and |2 respectively are formed bellows-like with the end walls formed of heads 2| and 22. The side walls |I and |2' are of cylindrical shape with the bellows-like wall II being fastened to and sealed fluid pressure tight to the upper end head 2| and likewise fastened and sealed uid pressure tight to the upper side of the disc head I3 while the side walls YI2' of the lower chamber |2 is likewise fastened and sealed fluid pressure tight to the under surface of the disc head I3 and to the upper surface of the disc l head 22. The bellows under head 2| is provided with a central downwardly depending part or projection 2| and it screw threadedly receives the upper end of the rod or stem 20 while the bellowshead 22 is provided with a central screw threaded opening to receive the lower end of the rod or stem 2B. The ow or transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other through the clearance at the central opening I9' tends to compel the two heads 2| and 22 to move in'unison and the rod or stem 2|! makes this action more positive.

The lower bellows head 22 is provided underneath with a central stem extending downwardly therefrom which stem is externally screw threaded and there is screw threadedly attached to this a valve support member 23, the latter having a central bore which is screw threaded for adjustment on the stem. This valve support member 23 at its upper end is provided with a flaring valve portion 24 which cooperates with the upper interior surface 25 of the bore 4 to form a control valve with the valve opening gradually-increasing as the rod or stem 2U and the valve support 23 are moved upwardly. A compression spring 26 is shown disposed between the downwardly extending stem carried by the valve head 22 and the lower wall surface of the bore of the support member 23 which spring assists in taking up any lost motion in the threaded connection,

thereby tending to lock the member 23 in the adjusted position.

A small drain passage or opening 6 leads from the bore 4 into the drain outlet B'I and the valve support 23 carries at its lower end an enlarged cylindrical valve member 28 and this valve portion 28 substantially closes the small drain outlet 6 when the valve portion 28 occupies the position to block or substantially block the drain opening 6 as, for example, when the end head 22 is moved upwardly to cause the valve portion 28 to thus function. The bellows and I2' with their closing heads 2| and 22 and the central disc I3 form an upper and a lower sealed chamber for thereception of a suitable fluid as, for example, glycerine or oil. The central hub portion I9 of the disc I3, in addition to the clearance between the walls of the kopening formed therein and the rod or stem 20, is provided with one or more vertical passages 3|! forpermitting the vflow Vof One fluid from the upper chamber II to the lower chamber I2 and in the particular embodiment shown there are four of these passages 30. The lower side of the hub portion I9 is screw threaded to receive a sleeve 3| which is similarly screw threaded on the interior thereof to cooperate with the under side of the hub portion I9. Also the upper side of the central hub part I9 is exteriorly threaded to receive a similar internally threaded Both of these sleeves 3| and 32 form stopsA to limit the degree of contraction and expansion of the chambers and I2, namely the degree of collapsing and expansion of the bellows. That is the bellows head 2| is engaged by the upper end of the sleeve 32 and the lower bellows head 22 is engaged by the lower end of the sleeve 3| at the limits of movement.

The lower sleeve 3| has the additional function of supporting a valve housing and mechanism on the inside for controlling the drain passages 30. This valve mechanism includes an open ended housing 35 which is provided with screw threads at its upper and open end to engage cooperating internal threads of the sleeve 3| as shown at 3| A valve element 36 which is of inverted cup shape form is provided for controlling the transfer passages 3. This valve element 36 is provided with a central opening through the bottom thereof for the accommodation of the rod or stem 2I| and this valve element slides freely within the sleeve housing 35. The upper part of the valve element 3E i s therefore of annular shape and is adapted to close the passage or passages 38 when the valve element 36 is in the uppermost position. It is normally held in the uppermost position to closev the passage or passages 30 by a compression spring 3l engaging at one end the interior of the valve element 36, namely at its upper end and engaging the closed end of the sleeve housing 35 and this spring 3'I surrounds the rod or stem 20. The latter passes freely through the central opening of the hub part I9 of the disc I3, through the central opening of the valve member 36, the

" spring 3I and the opening formed in the bottom of the sleeve-like housing 35 thereby permitting free and .unhindered movement of the rod or stem 2D under the influence of the actuating means including the head 22 and a compression spring 40.

Fig. l shows the parts of the control means approximately in the relative position or posi tions that they assume when there is no fluid pressure being received in the chamber 2 through `the intake l', 8, 8 as, for example, from an alarm check valve. In this position the chamber I2 is fully expanded, namely the bellows l2 is fully extended to the predetermined limit, while the chamber I is fully contracted, namely the bellows is collapsed to its fullest predetermined extent, that is the bellows head 2| is in engagement with the upper end of the sleeve 32 while the bellows head 22 is supported in the position shown from the lower end of the sleeve 3|.

Means are provided for biasing the heads 2| and 22 in a downward direction, This is effected by means of the compression spring 40 surrounding a sleeve GI and engaging at its lower end a flange 42 formed on the lower` end of the sleeve 4| and engaging at its upper end an adjustable nut ad carried by the casing. The sleeve 4| is provided at its upper end with an inwardly extending flange i3 which engages the cylindrical head 2| at its upper surface around the periphery thereof. The lower edge of the adjustable nut 44 forms an abutment of the casing against which the upper end of the compression spring 4G engages and in the particular embodiment shown the sleeve 44l vis screw threaded on its exterior for cooperation with an internally threaded portion of the upper end of the casing vBy adjusting the position of this abutment sleeve 44 the tension of the spring 40 may be adjusted to obtain the desired regulation and control. I

- The control mechanism is utilizedv for controlling or ee'cting the operation of a Suitable alarm or alarmsas, ior example, for use in automatic' indicated at 45 to the head 2| by means of a central opening formed in the headv2l, this opening and the lower end of the rod 45 being screw threaded for this purpose. This rod or `inger 45 is thus adjustably supported by the head 2l and a vlocking nut is illustrated for locking the rod or iinger 45 to the head 2| in any adjusted position. A closing cap and adapter |59 is screw threadedly attached as indicated at 6| to the upper end of the casing and this cap is'provided with a central screw threaded opening for the attachment of an alarm control as, for example, like that shown in Fig. 3 or for the attachment of a thimble 92 when the rod 45 is not being used to control an alarm. When the rod 45 is to'be used to control or actuate an alarm the thimble 62 is removed and the alarm such as that shown in Fig. 3 is attached to the adapter 6i) in the place of the thimble 62. When the alarm control illustrated in Fig. 3 is employed and to be controlled or operated by the rod 45 the nipple 54 of the casing of the alarm device'illustrated in Fig. 3 is attached into the screw threaded opening of the closing cap and adapter 69. l

The frame or casing of the electric alarm illustrated in Fig. 3 is formed'of three elements including a lower main supporting member comprising the screw nipple 54 and a 'base 55. The lower part of this base isv formed with an opening 4B leading into a similar ysmaller opening 46' formed in the base or upper part 55 'of the main base which opening accommodates freely the control rod 45. Another main body or casing element is the disc-like member 56 having a downwardly extending iiange 5S for screw threaded attachment to the base part 55 of the base support. The body part 59 is dished outat its under surface as indicated at 5l while the upper part 55 of the base is provided with a central cylindrical depression55. Thedished out body member 56 and the recess or depression 55 in the portion 55 form a chamber between the elements for the vaccommodation of a diaphragm 41 clamped between the base portion 55 and the body member 56. The third element of the casing is a cover or closure cap 53 which is fastened to the body element 56 by screw bolts 59 with the rim of the cover or closure cap 58 resting on a shoulder or ledge 59 formed on the upper-side ofthe body member 56 at its periphery.

The electric alarm shown in Fig. 3 is adapted for use with either the control means of this invention or it may be used with conventional retard accumulator chamber controls. When used with the latter controls it is desirable to form a y watertight seal and this is eiected by the clamping of the gasket 4l on one side of the diaphragm and in the particular embodiment shown 4the gasket is below-the diaphragm.

Housed within the Iclosure cap or cover 58. is an electric contact control including a conventional mercury switch 5'9 whichV is suitably mounted on and carried by a lever 49 which is lpivotally mounted at 49 to a bracket projection 'on the upper side of the body. A spring 5| is provided on one side'of` the pivotal point 49' of the lever 49 to bias the switch member 50 in Aon the under side of the lever 49 and on the upper side of the member 56 for anchoring the spring in position The diaphragm 41 carries a plunger 48 which is guided in a corresponding chamber formed in an upwardly projecting part of the body member 55 and this plunger 48 carries a pointed actuating part 48 which is adapted to rengage the under side of the lever 49 at a point to the left of the pivotal point 49,

the actuating part 48 passing up through a suitable opening as illustrated. When the actuating rod or stem 45 is moved upwardly by the control illustrated in Fig. l the upper end of the rod member 45 engages the diaphragm 41 and the central part of the diaphragm 4? together with the plunger 48 are thereby moved upwardly to actuate'the lever 49 clockwise about the pivotal point 49 and by such actuation of the lever 49 the mercury switch effects the desired alarm operation or control.

A bleeder or drain opening 53 is illustrated for relieving pressure underneath the diaphragm 41 in certain installations with which the electric alarm of Fig. 3 is adapted to be used, as for example with Athe retard accumulator chambers referred to above. When a water motor or other mechanical alarm is to be controlled or operated by fluid pressure the valve support and actuating member 23 is adjusted relatively to the upper end of the bore 4 so as to bring the valve cooperating parts or elements 24 and 25 to the exact relative position desired, that is this adjustment is adjusted to pass the fluid pressure for operating or controlling the water motor or mechanical alarm at a predetermined upward movement of the head 22 under the influence of the fluid pressure in the chamber 2. By adjusting the valve support member 23 upwardly the time period is shortened and by adjusting it downwardly the time period is increased. The time period for operating the alarmvcontrol is thus adjustable and moreover independently of the adjustment of the alarm controlling rod or stem 45.

For convenience in adjusting the position of the valve support member 23 ther bore 4 is continuedto the bottom of the casing to `form a screw threaded opening at the lower portion thereof and a closing plug 65 is removably inserted in the lower part of the bore to permit the entry of a conventional tool for rotating the member 23. The lower end of the valve support member 23 is provided with a groove or notch 66 whereby the same may be engaged by a screw driver or the like for adjustment.

The bore 4 is provided with a suitable drain 'opening' this drain mdrain outlet 61 with which means are provided ffor attaching a suitable drain connection. The

opening 6 leading to the fluid pressure for controlling oractuating the alarm passes from the bore 4 through' the outlet port 5 into the outlet S8 and the latter is tapped at its outer portion as indicated at 68 for the reception of a suitable connection for supplying the fluid pressure to' the mechanical alarm or actuator device which may be as indicated above a water motor or any suitable or conventional uid pressure controlled or operated means. The drain E is controlled by a second valve element 28 carried at the lower end of the valve support member 23. This valve element 28 in the particular embodiment shown is formed integrally with the valve support element 23 and makes a sufciently close fit with the bore 4 to-substantially close the drain passage 6 without offering rany frictional resistance to the upward move-I ment of the valve support 23. In the adjustment as shown in Fig. I the valve element 28 is disposed slightly below the drain passage E but when the valve element 28 is moved upwardly the drain passage 6 is substantially closed. In the particularV embodiment shown the valve support 23 is formed with a cross opening just above the valve element part 28 while the latter is provided with a central downwardly extending passage 1l, putting the cross passage 1B in direct communication Awith the chamber below the valve element 28. This arrangement prevents the entrapment of fuid pressure and assures free and unhindered movement of the valve support 23.v

The operation of the control means of this invention is generally as follows. As soon as fiuid under pressure begins to flow to the chamber 2 through the intake 8 iuid pressure brings to act on the bellows head 22, tending to collapse or partially collapse the bellows i2 and to move.

the head 22 with the stem or rod 20 upwardly. This upward movement is resisted by the ref sistance to flow of the fluid through the restricted passage or clearance about the rod or Vstem 2B at the hub part I9 of the disc member I3'and is also resisted by the tension of the spring 50. If the fluid pressure supplied to the chamber 2 continues long enough, depending upon the period of adjustment the actuator l5 is moved upwardly sufficientlyA to actuate the alarm described above. This time period depends on the adjustment vof the actuating rod 45, and the `clearance about the rod or stem at I9 together with the tension of the spring 4B. If the supply of fluid pressure to the lower chamber 2 should be discontinued before the predetermined time period is up then the alarm operated by the actuator 45 is not operated. This applies also to the fluid pressure alarm control which will be described below. Whenever this happens, namely when fluid pressure is lowered or the supply of it to the chamber 2 is vdiscontinued the compression spring 49 instantly takes over control, forcing the head 2| (and the head 22) downwardly, thereby creating pressure within the bellows Il which pressure is suflicient to open the valve element 36 against the tension of the spring 31, whereupon the fluid which had been transferred from the lower bellows i2' to Ythe upper bellows il is rapidly and quickly retransferred back to the bellows i2 through the passages 30 which are controlled by the valve 36. This control whereby the return of the transferred fluid may not only flow downwardly .through the clearance i9 but also throughmthe '32 as it stops.

passage or passages 3G minimizes the resistance to the return to the normal position shown with the head 2| engaging the upper end of the sleeve When this occurs the pressures in the chambers formed by the bellows are equalized and the valve 36 is again closed by the spring 31.

'f The fluid under pressure which has accumu lated in the lower chamber 2 of the casing around about the bellows l2 drains oli through the slight clearance maintained in the adjusted position between the valve elements 24 and 25 into the bore 4 and thence through the drain passage 6.

The operation is generally the same when the water motor or other fluid pressure alarm actuating or controlling device is employed. The moment the fluid under pressure begins to ow into the chamber 2 to exert pressure underneath the head 22, the latter tends to move in an upward direction. When the movement takes place the valve opening between the valve element 24 and the surface or valve part 25 is increased in area whereupon the fluid pressure then escapes in sufficient quantity after a predetermined time period down into the bore 4 and out through the opening 5 leading to the water motor or other alarm control device to control or actuate the same.

As indicated aboveV I have thus provided a multiplicity of alarm controls. There are two such controls in the particular embodiment shown and these controls are independently adjustable and may be set for operation at the same time period or at different time periods.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the control means of this invention as operatively associated with -an alarm check valve 15 which is set forth and claimed per se in an application for United States Letters Patent entitled Valves for Automatic Sprinkler Systems and executedy by me on May 29, 1947. The control means of this invention is particularly adapted for use with the alarm check valve 15. The latter embodies a valve clapper 16 having a rubber or other suitable facing 11 which is clamped to the upper plate of the clapper by a plate 18. The clapper is carried by a clapper arm 19 with the clapper being journaled in the bearings 8!) of the clapper arm for fr ee rotation about the valve seat. The valve includes-a valve seat ring Si which is integrally formed with the valve body or casing as by being cast integrally therewith. This cast in ring 8i has built up on the seating surface thereof a non-rust or non-ferrous valve seating surface 82 and the valve seat ring including the non-ferrous surface is provided with an alarm port or passage 83 of short or abbreviated circumferential extent as, for example, having a cross sectional area approximating that of the outlet port 84. The latter is connected by a pipe 85 with the intake 8 of the control means described above. It is intended that the disclosure of the above application describing and illustrating the alarm check valve 15 shall be considered as a part of the disclosure of this application. The fluid used in the sealed chambers ll and l2 is preferably an inelastic one. The clearance IQ' between the stem 29 and the wall of the central opening of the disc head I3 is only a few thousandths of an inch, depending somewhat on the viscosity of the fluid used. This clearance i9 is exaggerated in Fig. 1A for purposes of illustration. In the particular embodiment the corrugated or bellowslike walls H and l2' are shown as having the samenumber of corrugations and of being the same length when freely extended but it is `understood that they may be of a different number of corrugations or they may be of different lengths with the corrugations closer together, as may be desired.

I claim:

1. A retard control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing, a pair of sealed contractible and expansible iiuid chambers filled with a suitable fluid mounted in said casing with a restricted passage between the chambers permitting the gradual transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other when one of the chambers is contracted, one of said sealed chambers being disposed in -a fluid pressure receiving chamber formed in the casing and being contractible by the uid pressure received therein to cause. a portion of the fluid in the sealed chamber to transfer through the restricted passage into the other sealed chamber, an alarm control means actuated by the contraction of one sealed chamber and a valve means operated by difference in pressures in the two sealed chambers permitting a quick return ofv the transferred uid when the fluid pressure supply is reduced or discontinued in the casing.

2. A retard control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing, a pair of sealed contractible and expansible uid chambers filled with a suitable iiuid mounted in said casing with a restricted passage between the chambers permitting the gradual transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other when one of the chambers is contracted, one of said sealed chambers being disposed in a iiuid pressure receiving chamber formed' in the casing and being contractible by the uid pressure received therein'tocause a portion of the uid in the sealed chamber to transfer through the restricted passage into the other sealed chamber, an alarm control means actuated by the expansion of one sealed chamber and a valveV means operated by difference in pressures in the two sealed chambers permitting a quick return of the transferred uid when the iiuid pressure supply is reduced or discontinued in the casing.

3. A retard control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing, a pair of sealed contractible and expansible fluidchambers filled with a suitable uid and mounted in said casing with a restricted passage between the chambers permitting the gradual transfer of uid from one chamber to the other when one of the chambers is contracted, one of said sealed chambers being disposed in a uid pressure receiving chamber formed in the casing and being contractible by the fluid under pressure received therein to cause a portion of the fluid in the sealed chamber to transfer through the restricted passage into the other sealed chamber, an alarm control means actuated by the contraction or eX- pansion of one sealed chamber, biasing means opposing the contraction and expansion of the sealed'chambers, a valve port between the sealed chambers and valve means controlling said port and responsive to the difference in pressure in the sealed chambers set up by the biasing means to cause a quick retransfer of the uid from one sealed chamber to the other when the fluid pressure is reduced or discontinued in the casing uid pressure chamber.

4 A retard control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing, -a pair of sealed contractibie and expansible uuid cham- A bers filled with a suitable fluid and mounted in eating passages, and a biased valve is provided l0 said casing with a restri'ted passage'between the chambers permitting the gradual transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other when one of the chambers is contracted, one of said sealed champ bers being disposed in a Huid pressure receiving chamber formed in the casing and being contractible by fluid under pressure received therein to cause a portion of the fluid in the sealed chamber to transfer through the restricted passage into the other sealed chamber, an alarm control means actuated by the contraction or expansion of one sealed chamber, biasing means opposing the contraction and expansion of the sealed chambers and normally holding the sealed chambers in a position in which the sealed chamber disposed in the iiuid pressure chamber of the casing is expanded to a predetermined position and the other sealed chamberV is partially contracted, a valve port between the sealed chambers and valve control means for said port which is opened under the pressure created by the biasing means to open the port and thereby permitting a quick retransfer of uid when the fluid pressure supply is reduced or discontinued in the casing fluid pressure chamber.

5, A retard control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing. a pair of f sealed contractibley and expansible fluid chambers lled with a suitable iiuid andY mounted in *said casing, one of said sealed chambers being sealed chambers and a valve control for permitting a gradual transfer of a portion of the fluid from the sealed chamber which is disposed in the fluid pressure chamber of the casing when fluid pressure is received therein and permitting the quick retransfer of the fluid when the fluid pressure supply in the casing chamber is reduced or discontinued.`

6'. In a control means of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the sealed chamberv which is disposed in the casing iiuid pressure chamber carries a valve controlling a port between said sealed pressure chamber and a mechanical alarm.

7. In a control means of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein one of the sealed chambers carries a valve element controlling a port leading to a Huid actuated alarm.

8. In a control means of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein one of the two sealed chambers carries a means for operating an electric alarm.

9. In a control means of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the sealed chambers are spaced from each other by a head member and said head is provided with said communifor controlling at least one of said passages and is adapted to close the same upon the contraction of one of the chambers and to open the same upon the contraction of the other chamber.

l0. In a control means of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the sealed chambers are formed with corrugated side enclosing walls and end head closures together with a disc head member separating the chambers, said disc head member having an opening therethrough with a stem passing through and having a small clearance with said opening and mechanically connecting the end heads, said disc head having one or more communicating passages therein between the two sealed chambers with the valve control comprising a spring biased valve element controlling said passages.

11. In a control means of the character set forth in claim wherein the sealed chambers are formed with corrugated side enclosing walls and end head closures together with a disc head member separating the chambers, said dischead member having an opening therethrough with a stem passing through and having a small clearance with said opening and mechanically connecting the endheads, said disc head having one or more communicating passages therein between the two sealed chambers with the valve control comprisingr a spring biased valve controlling said passages and spring biasing means are provided for biasing the end heads in one direction against a stop member.

12. In a control means of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein independently adjustable actuating means for the alarms are actuated by the contraction and expansion o f said sealed chambers.

13. A retard control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing having a fluid pressure receiving chamber therein, a sealed unit having a pair of sealed chambers formed of corrugated side walls permitting endways contraction and expansion of the chambers, the corrugated walls thereof being sealed to a central member separating the two sealed chambers with the outer ends thereof sealed to end closing heads, said central member being fixedly mounted in the casing and sealing the fluid pressure receiving chamber thereof from the upper part of the casing with one of said sealed chambers projecting down into the iluid pressure receiving chamber and subject to the fluid pressure therein, stop means limiting the contraction and expansion of the chambers, biasing means holding the end head of the upper sealed chamber in a fixed position with the chamber thereof partially contracted and with the sealed chamber which is disposed in the fluid pressure receiving chamber of the casing eX- panded, alarm control means actuated by the contraction and expansion of the sealed chambers, and communicating passages formed in said central member between the sealed chambersY and a valve control for permitting only a gradual transfer of a part of the fluid from the lower sealed chamber to the upper chamber when the lower sealed chamber is subjected to the fluid pressure in the fluid pressure receiving chamber but permitting a more rapid retransfer of the uid from the upper chamber to the lower chamber when the fluid pressure is reduced or discontinued in said fluid pressure receiving chamber.

14. A control unit of the character set forth comprising a pair of sealed contractible and expansible fluid chambers separated by and sealed to a head with a restricted passage therein between the chambers permitting the transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other, certain of the enclosing walls of said chambers being movably exible for permitting the expansion and contraction of the chambers by transfer of fluid through the restricted passage, means for applying fluid pressure to the exterior of one ofY said chambers to cause contraction and expansion of the chambers and control means actuated by said contraction and expansion of the chambers.

l2 15; A control unit of the character set forth comprising a pair ofA sealed contractible and expansible fluid chambers separated by and sealed to a head with a restricted passage therein between the chambers permitting the transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other, certain of thev enclosing walls of said chambers being movably flexible for permitting the expansion and contraction of the chambers by transfer of fluid through the restricted passage, means for applying fluid pressure to the exterior of one of said chambers to cause contraction and expansion of the chambers and control means actuad by said contraction and expansion of the chambers, said flexible and movable portions of the chamber enclosing walls being mechanically connected for operation in unison.

16. A control unit of the character set forth comprising a pair of sealed fluid chambers with a restricted passage therebetween permitting the transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other, said chambers being provided with collapsible side walls and rigid end heads, means for mounting said chambers with one of said chambers disposed in a chamber adapted to receive fluid pressure for collapsing the walls thereof and effecting a delayed movement of the end head of the other sealed chamber through the delayed transfer of Vfluid through the restricted passage and a control element operated by the end head of said last named chamber.

1'7. A control unit of the character set forth comprising a casing having a chamber therein4 adapted to receive fluid pressure and a control each other by a wall having a restricted passage therethrough permitting the transfer of fluid from one chamber to the other, said chambers having enclosing walls certain portions of which are flexible and movable for contraction and expansion of the chambers, one of said chambers being disposed in a fluid pressure receiving chamber and means responsive to the flexing and movement of the flexible and movable part of the 'enclosing walls of one of said sealed chambers for effecting a controlling function.

18. In a control of the character set forth in claim5 wherein the sealed fluid pressure chambers carry an adjustable valve disposed in a bore in the casing, said valve being adjustable by the application of a suitable tool into the bore.

19. A control unit of the character set forthv mitting endwise contraction and expansion of the chambers, closing end heads, an intermediate support member, stop members attached to the intermediate member, one of said stop members being a housing sleeve for a valve control, a valve housing carried by said sleeve, a spring biased valve housed in said housing and engaging a portion of the surface of the intermediate member, said portion having one or more communicating passages controlled by said valve element and a stem passing through a central opening formed in the intermediate member with a small clearance therebetween.

20. A control unit of the character set forth comprising a pair of contractible and expansible chambers-formed by side corrugated walls permitting endwise contraction and expansion of the chambers, closing end heads, an intermediate support member, stop members attached to the intermediate member, one of said stop members being a housing sleeve for a valve control, a valve housing carried by said sleeve, a spring biased sure chambers mounted in said casing with a res stricted passage means between at least two of said chambers for gradually transferring fluid from one chamber to another when one of the chambers is contracted or expanded, one of said chambers being disposed in a fluid pressure receiving chamber formed in the casing and being contractible and expansible responsively to the fluid pressure in said fluid pressure receiving chamber to cause an interchange of fluid from one of the contractible and expansible chambers to the other, an alarm control means actuated by said contractible and expansible chambers and Valve means operated by diierences in pressure in the two expansible *and contractible chambers permitting a quick return of the transferred uid when the fluid pressure supply is'reduced or discontinued in the casing.

22. Control means for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing, a plurality of contractible and expansible iiuid pressure chambers 14 mounted in said casing, means for transferring uid from one chamber to the other when certain of the chambers are contracted and expanded, one of said chambers being disposed in a fluid. pressure receiving chamber formed in the casing and being contractible and expansible by the changing uid pressure received therein, control means actuated by said contractible and eX- pansible fluid chambers and valve means operatively responsive to differences in pressure in certain of the contractible and expansible chambers permitting a quick equalization of uid pressures in certain of the chambers.

23. A control unit for automatic sprinkler systems comprising a casing, a plurality of separate expansible and contractible fluid pressure chambers formed into a unit and mounted in said casing, means for transferring fluid pressure between certain of said chambers including Valve control means responsive to differences in pressure therein and a control means actuated by said unit.

LESTER. A. GRIMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,680,142 Evans et al. Aug. 7, 1928 2,672,634 Griffith Mar. 2, 1937 

